Winter’s so long and dark here in Finland that we Finns have a duty to enjoy summer. Before heading out to big summer festivals I opened my festival season here in my hometown Orimattila (population 15,000). There was a band night where local bands played. I had a good time, the weather was fine, and the bands were trying hard and giving everything to a small audience. My homeboys impressed me so much that I thought it would be cool to promote them here.

Figure
I would really have wanted to see these guys, but I thought that the best band plays last, so I missed their set. The band sounds a little bit like Nine Inch Nails but without the electronica influences and they have a good singer. They’re actually releasing their debut album Blood, Bullets & Reloads soon. I’m really hoping that they will make it big. In spring Figure actually won a demo contest in YleX, which is like Finland’s Radio One.
Website
MySpace

Vintage Voltage
This band plays blues-rock covers. On Friday they played Jimi Hendrix and Cream. They are all good musicians, but I think they take lack the personality of a good group. They appear on stage like a prog rock band taking themselves way too seriously. Unfortunately their drummer and bass player are doing their compulsory military service (every young male in Finland has to do that) so the band is on a hiatus right now.

Surface
In Finland every festival has an obligatory death metal band. This band filled the slot. They were really filled with enthusiasm. And actually quite fun to watch when they started bangin’ their heads.
Website

Subzero
Subzero are real stars in Orimattila, or at least they act like ones. They dress up like little brothers of Ramones who have learned few tricks from Marc Bolan. Their lead singer Lester Brisco is banned from all the local bars. And they’re stage show makes me smile. On Friday there was a small crowd, but they gave everything they had. Their lead singer Lester Brisco (he has a real Finnish name too) jumped around and tried to make a good show. These kids still believe in the power of three chords.
Website